The Colorado Avalanche have signed T.J. Hughes to a 1-year entry level contract starting in the 2026-27 season.
The winger will join Colorado’s AHL affiliate for the remainder of this season.
Hughes, 24, was one of the most sought-after NCAA free agents this season. He had 22 goals and 35 assists in 40 games in his senior year with the University of Michigan.
The Calgary Flames have signed Tyson Gross to an entry-level contract, reports Eric Francis.
Based on his age, Gross’ entry level contract will be 2 seasons. Francis reports he is expected to make his NHL debut this season, indicating that he will burn the first year of the deal in 2025-26.
Gross was likely considered the top NCAA UFA this season. The 6’3″ center had 18 goals and 23 assists in 36 games this season, his junior year at St. Cloud State. He will turn 24 in September.
The Utah Mammoth have re-signed Nick Schmaltz to an 8-year contract extension with a cap hit of $8 million.
Elliotte Friedman reports that the team compromised on term and the player compromised on dollars. Friedman reported Monday on 32 Thoughts the Podcast that he didn’t believe the Mammoth wanted to go to 8 years for Schmaltz, who turned 30 in February.
Schmaltz has 24 goals and 35 assists in 65 games with the Mammoth this season.
The Colorado Avalanche have acquired Nazem Kadri and a 4th round pick from the Calgary Flames in exchange for Victor Olofsson, Max Curran, a 2028 1st round pick and a 2nd round pick.
The center won a Stanley Cup with the Avalanche in 2022 before signing a 7-year, $49 million contract with the Flames as a free agent. He still has 3 seasons left on that contract carrying a cap hit of $7 million.
The Flames are retaining 20% of the contract, so the Avalanche will get Kadri at a cap hit of $5.6 million.
Kadri, 35, has 12 goals and 19 assists in 61 games for the Flames this season.
The New York Islanders have re-signed Jean-Gabriel Pageau to a 3-year contract extension carrying a cap-hit of $4.85 million.
Pageau, 33, has 14 goals and 15 assists in 55 games this season for the Islanders.
The Los Angeles Kings have acquired Scott Laughton from the Toronto Maple Leafs for a 3rd round pick.
The 3rd round pick will become a 2nd if the Kings make the playoffs.
The center, acquired by the Leafs from the Flyers last season, is eligible to be a UFA this summer.
Laughton, 31, has 8 goals and 4 assists in 43 games for the Leafs this season.
The Detroit Red Wings have acquired Justin Faulk in exchange for Justin Holl, a 1st round pick, a 3rd round pick and Dmitri Buchelnikov.
Faulk is signed through next season at a cap hit of $6.5 million.
Faulk, 33, has 11 goals and 21 assists in 61 game with the Blues this season.
The Seattle Kraken have acquired Bobby McMann from the Toronto Maple Leafs in exchange for a 2027 2nd round pick and a 2026 4th round pick.
The winger is set to be a UFA this summer.
McMann, 29, has 19 goals and 13 assists in 60 games for the Leafs this season.